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Strains of good bacteria, including Bifidobacterium breve and several types of Clostridium bacteria, were found in breast milk and in feces of mothers and their babies, a Swiss study showed. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Microbiology, suggest that "bacteria can actually travel from the mother's gut to her breast milk," study author Christophe Lacroix said.

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Infants exposed to antiepileptic drugs through their mothers' breast milk had higher IQ and Verbal Index scores at age 6 than those who were not breast-fed, according to a study presented at the American Epilepsy Society meeting. Breast-fed babies also fared a little better than their counterparts in nonverbal, memory and executive functioning, but the differences were not statistically significant, researchers said.

Children with beta-cell autoimmunity had reduced levels of lactate- and butyrate-producing gut bacteria, lower Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium psuedocatenulatum rates and a higher amount of Bacteroides genus, a study indicated. More studies are needed as "low abundance of bifidobacteria and butyrate-producing species could adversely affect the intestinal epithelial barrier function and inflammation, whereas the apparent importance of the Bacteroides genus in development of type 1 diabetes is insufficiently understood," researchers wrote in Diabetes.

Kittens fed a high-protein diet have lower levels of two beneficial intestinal bacteria, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus, than kittens fed a diet containing balanced amounts of protein and carbohydrates, according to a recent study. A lack of bifidobacterium has been associated with irritable bowel syndrome in people, and lactobacillus may be involved in cholesterol and appetite levels. The findings may help humans because intestinal bacterial populations are similar in humans and cats.

Putting babies to bed with bottles in their mouths leads to tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease, dentists say. Formula, juice and milk, including breast milk, contain sugars that feed bacteria, which generate decay-causing acids. Babies are at risk as soon as teeth appear. "This disease is 100% preventable," said Dr. Indru Punwani of the University of Illinois Medical Center.

The FDA on Tuesday issued a statement warning mothers against the use of breast milk "acquired directly from individuals or through the Internet" because of a potential risk of contamination or diseases. The agency said that women should instead consult their doctors and use milk from special human milk banks.